Golf club

Abstract

A golf club having superior balance and sensory feedback which includes a shaft connected to a clubhead comprising two basic elements, an integrated hosel and insert which defines a striking surface and a shell including a distal toe portion, and a heel portion uniquely integrated with the combined hosel and insert. In preferred embodiments the clubhead has a cylindrical striking surface, polar mass concentrations for optimum dynamic performance and a medial shell portion coupling the toe and heel portions to the insert. A cavity behind the striking surface of the insert enhances the sound of impact and a visible top surface of the insert integral with the hosel with sighting indicia enhances golfer alignment and stroking of the ball to provide resultant confidence and consistency.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION[0001]This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 148,011 filed Aug. 10, 1999.TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to the field of golf clubs, and more particularly, to the field of golf putters.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]The prior art has provided numerous golf clubs, and particularly, golf putters, that are designed to improve the performance of the golfer or otherwise enhance the golfing experience. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,042,405 to Karsten Solheim discloses a golf club having internal weights at the heel and toe ends of the club with two thin plates connecting them. The sound of the club as it strikes a golf ball at the center of the club face is described as different from the sound made by the golf club when striking the golf ball at an off-center position. It is stated that the substantially hollow center behind the front face of the club provides an ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]The present invention provides a well-balanced golf club that satisfies the foregoing general objects. The golf club of the invention includes a shaft that has a handle end and a clubhead end. The clubhead end is connected to a clubhead comprising two basic elements. The two basic clubhead elements are (1) a combined hosel and insert defining a striking surface integrally related to a sighting surface and to the shaft and handle, and (2) a shell including a distal toe portion and a heel portion, each secured to the insert. Where the shaft and the insert are of the same material they may be formed as a single unit. In a preferred embodiment, a medial portion is secured between the heel and toe portions configured for optimum dynamic balance, sensitive feed-back and related enhanced sighting. The combined insert and hosel are preferably of low mass density materials compared to the shell to provide an optimum polar mass distribution. The insert is visible on a top surface which will assist the golfer in addressing the ball and aligning the club and ball for the putt. Top surface treatment in a preferred embodiment can further enhance the sighting.

[0008]Also, in preferred embodiments of the invention, high mass density elements are added to the toe portion and the heel portion of the shell to improve the optimum balance and dynamic characteristics of the putter. In various preferred embodiments of the invention, the insert can have a front plate defining the striking surface integral with the hosel and secured to the toe, heel and medial portions of the shell or it may have various configurations including a longitudinal channel shape or comprise a longitudinal cylindrical tube extending from a base or root in the heel. In still other preferred embodiments, the combined hosel and insert includes a reinforcing armature connecting the hosel and insert and the insert is a generally rectilinear blade having an exposed striking surface, sole surface and sighting top surface. Furthermore, the hosel includes an offset portion to generally align the shaft axis with the striking surface.

Problems solved by technology

Some golf clubs known in the art are said to have a substantially awkward “feel” when striking a golf ball, believed to be in part because of the distribution of weight within the clubhead.

In addition, while the prior art has provided other golf clubs that are said to have a proper feel and to be properly balanced, many of these golf clubs are unattractive and the physical appearance is distractive.

Those configurations do not provide the optimum perspective to the golfer as the ball is addressed or audible response as the club strikes the ball.

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